High Sierra (1941)

After being released from prison, notorious thief Roy Earle is hired by his old boss to help a group of inexperienced criminals plan and carry out the robbery of a California resort.

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

John Huston (screen play), W.R. Burnett (screen play)

Stars:

Ida Lupino, Humphrey Bogart, Alan Curtis

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ida Lupino	...	Marie
Humphrey Bogart	...	Roy Earle
Alan Curtis	...	'Babe'
Arthur Kennedy	...	'Red'
Joan Leslie	...	Velma
Henry Hull	...	'Doc' Banton
Henry Travers	...	Pa
Jerome Cowan	...	Healy
Minna Gombell	...	Mrs. Baughmam
Barton MacLane	...	Jake Kranmer
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Ma (as Elizabeth Risdon)
Cornel Wilde	...	Louis Mendoza
Donald MacBride	...	Big Mac
Paul Harvey	...	Mr. Baughmam
Isabel Jewell	...	Blonde

Storyline

Roy 'Mad Dog' Earle is broken out of prison by an old associate who wants him to help with an upcoming robbery. When the robbery goes wrong and a man is shot and killed Earle is forced to go on the run, and with the police and an angry press hot on his tail he eventually takes refuge among the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, where a tense siege ensues. But will the Police make him regret the attachments he formed with two women during the brief planning of the robbery.

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Plot Keywords:

mountain | mountain road | heist | mob boss | farmer | 

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Taglines:

Towering Thrills with this Year's Academy Award Star!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Cagney turned down the role of Roy Earle in order to avoid being typecast.

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Goofs

Bogart's licence plate is a different colour when he arrives in California.

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Quotes

Healy: [looking at Roy's dead body] Big shot Earle. Well well. Look at him lying there. He ain't much now, is he?
Marie Garson: [kneeling next to Roy's body and crying] Mister, what does it mean... when a man "crashes out"?
Healy: Crashes out? That's a funny question for you to ask now, Sister. It means he's free.
Marie Garson: [picks up Pard and walks with the police in a daze] Free?... Free...
[fade out to credits]

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits curve over the mountain-top valley of the background, as the wind would do.

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Alternate Versions

Because this movie made Humphrey Bogart a major star, re-releases billed him ahead of Ida Lupino.

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Connections

Referenced in Westworld: The Original (2016)

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Soundtracks

I Get a Kick out of You (1934)
(uncredited)
Written by Cole Porter
Played on a record at Velma's Home
Danced to by Joan Leslie and John Eldredge

User Reviews

Bogie Goes From Bad To Good Guy

Aw, the film that launched stardom for Humphrey Bogart and changed him from the perpetual villain to the "good guy."

The movie doesn't feature a lot of action but it keeps your interest. You have two women in here: the hard-boiled Ida Lupino and the soft-and-sweet Joan Leslie. Both are entertaining to watch and both demonstrate a few surprises in the personalities of the characters they are playing. Bogart does the same: goes back and forth between tough guy and softy.

Another key member of this unusual crime story/film noir is "Pard:" a little dog! Human supporting roles are supplied by some familiar and solid actors such as Arthur Kennedy, Alan Curtis, Henry Hull, Henry Travers, Barton MacLane and Cornel Wilde. Most of the people in here, including "Pard," are that endearing but there are so many different angles to this story, it's always interesting to see.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

High Sierra

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$455,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1